April 04, 2007 (LBO) – A rebel parliamentarian who re-joined Sri Lanka's opposition after a brief stint as a deputy minister, told parliament Wednesday that he was receiving death threats, while his former fellow rebels labeled the move as childish. œIf he joined the government only for the glory of a position and the attached perks, he is sure to get disappointed as the government cannot afford any luxury at a difficult time like this, the group says. Former deputy minister for railways Edward Goonasekara vacated his ministerial post on Tuesday saying he is unable to keep on servicing the public with the position given to him, and came back to the main opposition United National Party.
Parliament was suspended yesterday as a commotion erupted when he sought to make a statement on the move back to the opposition.
Rebel members or the Democratic Group of the UNP who are now government ministers said in a statement that the reasons given for leaving his position was 'flimsy and childish.'
"It is up to the individual to decide his own course of action," the group said in a statement.
"We also wish to reiterate that such a decision by an individual will not at all affect the unity and the harmony of our group, nor will it c
